Giving Thanks...

I am amazed daily at how beautifully detailed our God is and how passionately He loves His children. Today as I drove home from Natalie's Thanksgiving Feast, my eyes filled with tears because of blessing we have be given. Two Thanksgiving's ago she was still all nestled in her birthmother's womb...and now she is wearing pigtails, wearing adorable gold boots and is SO sassy!!

Words can't express how deeply appreciative I am that God saw fit to have her be placed in our family. He didn't have to bless us with her, His SON is enough of a blessing, but HE did and my heart swells daily due to His provision.

Sweet friend, I don't know what circumstance you are facing...but I do know that God always provides for His children. The holidays we spent without Natalie...don't compare to the holidays we spend with her! Jesus' way is ALWAYS the best! Give thanks right now...Praise Him because He is GOOD and His love ENDURES forever.

ROOTS...

Several weeks ago at church Jason preached on "Relational Roots" and how important relationships with other believers are in our spiritual growth. Ever since that sermon I have been reflecting A LOT on my "ROOTS" and the JOY it brings to do LIFE with people who LOVE Jesus and LOVE me, with me returning the same love!

One of the statements Jason made was "get all up in your soil." Meaning that there will be times when one of your relational roots will have to point out something IN YOU that isn't benefiting the Kingdom or yourself. The key is those relationships are built on JESUS, with lots of give and take...with lots of encouragement...with lots of FUN MOMENTS...so that way when your "root" speaks some TRUTH over your life, you can receive it. Sometimes it will be painful and sometimes it will be freeing...and if we receive it, then it will be beneficial to our spiritual growth.

I'm in a season of life/ministry that is MORE than I could have ever imagined. I am OVERWHELMED DAILY (in a great way) at the amount of ministry God has entrusted to Jason and me. I don't take it lightly, the calling HE has on my life. Ministry can be VERY lonely at times...especially when your husband is the "boss", Lead Pastor. But this is what I know for sure...GOD, in his PERFECT LOVE FOR ME has blessed me with relational roots that I simply am not worthy of, yet he saw fit to give me. These are women who pour their hearts out to God...ON MY BEHALF! They encourage me, love me, hold my arms up when I am too weary to go on, they go to coffee with me and chat about nothing yet its everything, they work out with me (they tell me I need to work out), they shop with me, they watch my kids, they memorize scripture with me (they ask me if I have been in God's word), they worship alongside of me, they call at the right moments, they discern how to minister to my family, they hug me, they go to the movies with me (even movies they would rather not see), they celebrate highs and cry in the lows...they are my roots...they are tangible Jesus' here on earth...and THEY GET ALL UP IN MY SOIL!!!! And then they give me the opportunity to "dig in their soil." We do LIFE together!

I know what you might be thinking, of course you have amazing roots...you are in ministry. HA! There have been times over my 12 years of ministry that I have NOT had amazing roots...and in those moments I begged God for TRUE friendships...and over the last several years he has brought a harvest out of those moments of tears! Friendships are priceless. Im thankful MORE today than ever before for the women that God has placed alongside of me to run this Christian race with. I feel honored to call them my "relational roots!"

The End of School...

This week is the end of school for our 1st grader, Jackson! To say that I am emotional would be an understatement, I have loved his 1st grade year! His teacher is simply priceless and his friends are fantastic. But the main reason I get misty eyed at the end of school is because I reflect back on the day Jackson was placed in my arms...the day I became his mommy! The day God said "Here, this is a gift, teach him well." Jackson is an amazing child, loves life, loves people and loves Jesus. He also has the BEST one liners...and some of the funniest questions.

I wish I could record how he asks questions and makes statements...because his tone is what really cracks me up when he talks...its just SO to the point. **No idea where he gets that??? :)

The other day him and I were at Target and we got drinks from Starbucks, I told him, "Jax, we are on a date together, thanks for spending time with me." He said, "yeah well I'm not enjoying it!" BUT his look on his face said it all...he was totally joking! Love him!

One day we were driving past a local church and he asked me, "Mom, how many services does that church have." I looked on their church sign and then told him they had two services. He said, "well that's just WEIRD!" Jax has only known church to have 4-6 services...so to him a church who only had two services was just weird! **Not to offend any one who attends or is on staff at church with two services...please don't take it the wrong way!

He is just an honest, funny, kind little boy...who LOVES to joke with his momma!

I was at his school this week and a teacher came up to me and said, "Are you Jackson G.'s mom?" I told her yes I was :) She said, "I watch him on the playground and he is always making sure that no one is left out and is always sharing. He is so kind!" Melt my heart!

As we were driving home today from school (2nd to last day), I was listening to Hillsong and silently praying over Jackson. My prayer was this, "Lord, yes I want him to know how to read, to have great Math skills, to be great at Science and History...but LORD please above all else...I want him TO KNOW YOU. I know 2+2=4 is important but your Freedom is Life and I desire him to KNOW you! I love it when he makes an A but Satan shutters when he memorizes your scripture...so Lord please help me to continue to TEACH him YOUR truth!"

No sooner than I had said "Amen", from the back seat I heard, "Mom, you're lame." I had told him that he couldn't go down to the neighbors house when we got home...so as I was praying for his heart...he was pondering how lame I am! I laughed and said, "um child...I was just praying silently over you"...to which he smiled and said "thank you!" The kids KNOWS he needs prayer!

Jackson Gray I love you sweet boy! You are a blessing to so many. God's hand is on you, he is with you where ever you go...I'm thankful that Daddy and I have a front row seat to your life journey! We simply want you to LOVE Jesus and walk in his FREEDOM! You are a chosen treasure...and loved dearly :)

Adoption & Coaching through my DADs eyes!

My dad has been a coach for my WHOLE LIFE and he recently retired. He now works for a company called ProMaxima and part of his job is to encourage around 4,000 coaches monthly. Here is an email he sent out this week...he shared our story of adoption! We could have NEVER walked this journey of adoption if we our families weren't SO supportive. Thank you Gaddis' and Gerdes'! Love you all!

A LIFE CHANGED

This past Friday I witnessed a life changing experience......
here's the story:

When my daughter was in junior high.....each night, before going to bed, she requested that our family adopt a baby. We had our hands full with the two we had and told her one day when she was old enough she could do that.

Her passion and dream for that to happen came true last year. Lindsey and her husband Jason waited 18 months and, finally, on December 5, 2009 Natalie Grace was born. What a blessing she has been this past year. The adoption process was finalized in court last week. I was not fired up about driving 4 hours for a five minute ceremony (just did what my wife told me to do).

Boy, am I thankful I did not miss out on this life changing event. As I sat in the courtroom waiting for our turn, tears filled my eyes, as I witnessed other families' dreams coming true. As I watched, I began to relate this with what we do as coaches. We have the opportunity to make life changing experiences for athletes we come in contact with each day. As you already know you are looked upon as a father, leader, and a role model for most of your kids. Thanks for all you do as a COACH!

Here is an email I received from a player who
I coached 18 years ago:

"What a difference my athletic experiences in high school taught me about life. I am pretty sure my class had the greatest coaching staff ever assembled (had them brain washed) to help us grow as athletes, team members, leaders, but mostly men. I look back on those days as the best of my life. I miss it something terrible. I hope all you coaches know how much y'all helped us grow."

Have a great Christmas break and NEVER GIVE UP on making life changing experiences each day for your athletes.

Happy 1st Birthday Natalie Grace!

Today we celebrated Natalie's 1st Bday! We can not believe that this day has come...this year went by TOOO fast! She is a HUGE blessing to our family.

She crawls all over the place, has two teeth and loves to push her toy stroller around the house. She is constantly making noises and loves doing patty cake and blowing kisses. She is eats EVERYTHING but her favorite thing to eat is Chick Fil A! She is for sure a GA girl :)

Our lives have been changed because God placed this little princess in our family. We love EVERY minute with our Natalie Grace!

BUSY...Quick Timeline!

September 18th - Jason did the wedding of two of our students from Green Acres Baptist Church (Jason was on staff at GABC when we first met almost 10 years ago). Hannah was one of the 1st students I ever mentored in ministry...she continues to bless my life! So proud of both her and Cody!

October 9th- 15th - Jason and a team of people from Revolution spent a week in Haiti doing medical missions! It was an intense week and God moved! Our church supports a mission in Haiti called Haiti Cheri...they are an ever present HERO to the people of Haiti.

October 17th - We started the Advance Initiative at Revolution! You can go here to get more info!

October 22nd - My Best Friend Amy got married---we have been praying for her husband for 5 years and God TOTALLY hooked a sista up! So proud of her and Phillip and SO thankful for the way they love Jesus and love each other.

DEC 10th - WE FINALIZE NATALIE's ADOPTION! CANT WAIT!

Apple Pickin FUN!

Today we went to Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, GA. It was beautiful. I still have to pinch myself that we live in this amazing part of the country! Gods master piece, his creation, is SO fun to explore! We PICKED apples right off the tree and drank yummy fresh apple cider...so amazing!

When we were driving home we were rocking out to the PASSION CD! Wow I love that CD! I was singing to Natalie and I had an amazing thought...last year at this time we had NO idea that God had picked Natalie for us! But just like apples have to wait to be picked until they are perfectly perfect, the weather is just right, and the trees are heavy with reds, pinks, greens and golden deliciousness...we have to wait on the Lord!

He PICKS our blessings...and when the time is right...he allows us to experience that blessing in its FULL GLORY!

In order to get to the U-Pick section of the orchard a lovely tractor took us for a ride on its trailer :) The ride was bumpy, dusty, hot and SO MUCH FUN! And it was beautiful. We drove past the section where they are planting strawberries for next year, drove past the cherry orchard and peaches! GLORIOUS! Then we arrived at our destination...and my friend and I were like children on CHRISTMAS! Who knew picking apples right off the tree would be such a worshipful experience.

Our journey to get to the U-PICK section of the orchard is much like our journey to ALLOWING GOD TO PICK FOR US! He picks the most amazing fruit...he desires for US to trust him and allow him to work! His season for harvest is perfect. He is RIGHT ON TIME and delivers some of the most amazing blessings. We don't have to figure out what works best for us, our family or our timeline! He knows the right time...when we will be ready and when our blessing will be ready! He invites us on a journey to experience him, sometimes it will be bumpy, dusty and hot...but it will be SO MUCH FUN and SO BEAUTIFUL! He works ALL THINGS together for our good...see from his perspective!

Jesus...U-PICK for me!

He LOVES us...a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!